Residence permit in Madeira via Golden Visa ProgramIsland residency with year-round mild climatedynamic economy, and EU mobility

Residence permit in Madeira and Portugal Golden Visa program

Why people seek residence and citizenship in Madeira

Madeira, an autonomous Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic, has become a highly sought-after destination for those pursuing a residence permit in Madeira and eventual citizenship by investment in Madeira. Renowned for its subtropical climate—with average annual temperatures between 17 °C and 24 °C—Madeira offers an exceptional quality of life combining outdoor adventure, cultural heritage, and modern infrastructure. The island’s rugged volcanic landscape, UNESCO-protected laurel forests, and extensive levada irrigation channels provide a unique environment for year-round hiking, wellness retreats, and agritourism. Residents enjoy direct maritime and air connections to mainland Portugal—via Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport—and rapid Schengen access to Europe, making how to get Madeira visa approvals both efficient and reliable.

Economic diversification initiatives spearheaded by the Regional Government of Madeira have fostered growth in emerging sectors such as marine biotechnology, blue-economy startups, and high-value wine exports—particularly the award-winning Madeira wine. Entrepreneurs and investors recognize the island’s strategic advantages: participation in Golden Visa Portugal programs enables qualifying real estate investments or capital fund contributions to secure a residence permit in Madeira with minimal stay requirements. Meanwhile, the Digital Nomad Residence Permit caters to remote professionals, offering a flexible pathway to permanent residence Madeira status through skilled employment contracts or self-employment in the technology sector. For families and retirees, the stable political environment, low crime rates, and comprehensive healthcare facilities under the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) ensure safety and well-being. The promise of a second passport in Madeira upon naturalization—granting full EU citizenship and visa-free travel to over 180 countries—further motivates global citizens seeking a balanced island lifestyle and strategic mobility hub.

Types of residence permits and citizenship programs

Portugal’s immigration framework extends multiple permit categories tailored to Madeira’s unique context. The Portugal Golden Visa program grants residency through qualifying investments: real estate acquisitions starting at €280,000 in low-density rehabilitation zones; capital transfers of at least €500,000 into approved investment funds; or contributions to scientific and cultural projects. Golden Visa applicants initially receive a two-year residence permit—renewable once—before applying for permanent residence Madeira status after five years of legal stay. Permanent residents enjoy indefinite stay rights, unrestricted employment, and access to SNS healthcare and social benefits.

The D7 Passive Income Visa suits retirees and remote workers demonstrating stable monthly income—pension payouts, dividends, or remote salaries—equivalent to at least the Portuguese minimum wage (€760 in 2025). Applicants submit bank statements, proof of lodging (rental agreement or property deed), and valid health insurance. After entry, D7 holders finalize their residence cards at Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) branches in Funchal.

Employment-based permits accommodate non-EU nationals with job contracts from Madeira-based employers—common in hospitality, maritime tech, and healthcare sectors. The Digital Nomad Residence Permit offers a streamlined route: applicants provide proof of remote work contracts or freelance engagements, earning at least four times the national minimum wage, plus health insurance and accommodation evidence. This visa confers an initial one-year permit—renewable annually—and aligns with EU directives on telework mobility.

Family reunification permits enable spouses, dependent minors, and dependent adult ascendants of primary permit holders to join under simplified conditions, granting full access to public education, healthcare, and social services. After five consecutive years of lawful residency across any combination of permits, holders apply for Portuguese naturalization under Law No. 37/81, meeting requirements of basic Portuguese language proficiency (A2 level), absence of serious criminal convictions, and demonstration of integration—culminating in issuance of a second passport in Madeira and full EU citizenship rights.

Requirements and application process

Securing a residence permit in Madeira demands meticulous document preparation. Core requirements include a valid passport with at least six months’ validity, two biometric photographs, proof of lodging (rental contract or property deed), criminal record certificate from countries of residence over the past five years (translated into Portuguese and apostilled), and comprehensive health insurance covering Portugal. Investor applicants additionally provide evidence of qualifying investments—bank transfer receipts, fund subscription certificates, or property purchase deeds—along with corporate entity documents for business ventures.

Applicants initiate procedures via the SEF online portal or Portuguese consulates abroad, submitting visa applications for their chosen category (Golden Visa, D7, Digital Nomad, or Employment). Upon visa issuance, entrants arrive in Portugal and schedule SEF appointments in Funchal within 120 days to finalize biometric enrolment—fingerprints and photograph—and present original documents. Processing times vary: D7 and Digital Nomad visas typically issue within 60–90 days; Golden Visa approvals may extend to 3–6 months due to enhanced investment-due-diligence checks mandated by Decree-Law No. 63/2015. Temporary residence cards are valid for one to two years—renewable once—before eligibility for permanent residence Madeira status after five years.

Legal framework and government policies

Madeira’s residency programs operate under the national Immigration and Borders Law (Law No. 23/2007) and Nationality Law (Law No. 37/1981), as amended by Decree-Law No. 63/2015 introducing the Golden Visa. EU directives on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) apply uniformly, requiring rigorous source-of-fund verifications, enhanced due diligence for high-net-worth investors, and collaboration between SEF and financial institutions. Madeira benefits from Portugal’s non-habitual resident (NHR) tax regime—granting a flat 20% tax rate on Portuguese-sourced self-employment and high-value activity income and exemptions on most foreign-sourced earnings for ten years—positioning the island as an attractive fiscal environment for retirees and professionals.

Regional incentives include accelerated permitting for sustainable tourism projects and marine tech R&D within designated innovation hubs—such as the Madeira Tech Island initiative—and simplified licensing for agritourism and organic-farming developments leveraging the island’s UNESCO biosphere status. Bilateral tax treaties with over 70 countries prevent double taxation on international income, while social security agreements safeguard pension continuity for expatriates. SEF’s continuous digital transformation—real-time application tracking, online appointment scheduling, and automated notifications—enhances transparency and efficiency, ensuring prospective residents remain informed of how to get Madeira visa approvals and comply with evolving policy updates published in the Diário da República.

Lifestyle, mobility, and long-term benefits

Residency in Madeira unlocks a distinctive island lifestyle enriched by cultural, natural, and social amenities. Funchal—the capital—boasts contemporary marinas, botanical gardens (Jardim Botânico da Madeira), and year-round events such as the Madeira Flower Festival and New Year’s Fireworks Festival, renowned globally. Outdoor enthusiasts explore levada-network hikes—such as Levada do Caldeirão Verde—and partake in canyoning, whale watching, and mountain-biking within Laurisilva Forest. The island’s healthcare infrastructure—public hospitals in Funchal and private clinics—meets EU standards, catering to families and retirees. Educational needs are served by international schools offering British and Portuguese curricula, while cultural integration is facilitated through local associations teaching Portuguese language courses and artisan crafts.

Mobility advantages extend through Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, with direct flights to Lisbon, Porto, and key European hubs, complemented by year-round ferry services to mainland Portugal. Residence permit holders enjoy visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, facilitating business engagements and leisure trips throughout Europe. Second passport in Madeira holders gain unrestricted EU citizenship rights—freedom to live, work, and study in any EU member state, voting rights in European elections, and consular protection globally—while property investments in Funchal’s historic centre, Caniço, and Paul da Serra consistently yield capital appreciation of 4–6% annually, supported by robust tourism demand and sustainable development projects.

Long-term residents access social security benefits—including unemployment support, disability allowances, and retirement pensions—upon qualifying contribution periods, and may participate in community integration programs offering volunteer opportunities, civic workshops, and networking events that strengthen social cohesion and cultural exchange. The convergence of year-round mild weather, dynamic local economy, and EU mobility positions Madeira as an exceptional locale for families, retirees, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and investors seeking a seamless pathway to residence and citizenship in Madeira.

How VelesClub Int. helps

VelesClub International delivers comprehensive, end-to-end services for clients pursuing residence permits and citizenship by investment in Madeira. We begin with a personalized eligibility assessment—evaluating professional background, family composition, financial capacity, and lifestyle objectives—to recommend the optimal permit route.

Our team manages all facets of document preparation: certified translations, criminal record clearances, property due diligence, fund verification, and SEF portal registration—ensuring precision and compliance with Portuguese and EU regulations. For Golden Visa applicants, we coordinate property selection, investment fund subscriptions, and rigorous source-of-fund audits, liaising with banks, notaries, and SEF to expedite approvals. For D7 and Digital Nomad visas, we prepare financial evidence, lodging documentation, and health insurance certificates, and schedule consular and SEF appointments. Post-arrival, VelesClub Int. assists with biometric enrolment, tax and social security registration, NIF (tax number) acquisition, and bank account setup.

Throughout the residency renewal cycle, our project managers compile updated dossiers, arrange SEF renewals, and monitor compliance deadlines. For naturalization, we facilitate Portuguese language courses, civic integration workshops, and dossier submission to the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais—culminating in citizenship ceremonies and issuance of second passports in Madeira. Leveraging deep local expertise, strategic government contacts, and a proven success record, VelesClub International ensures a seamless, efficient, and tailored journey to secure permanent residence Madeira status and full EU citizenship—empowering clients to embrace the unparalleled island lifestyle and strategic mobility Madeira offers.